A waterproof 3D virtual reality system is described. The virtual reality system includes several key components, such as a submersion tank, an enveloping medium, a waterproof head-mounted display system containing a sensor for tracking the user's head movements and an optical element that displays virtual reality images, waterproof hand sensors, electronic surface sensors, a computer/controller that both receives and transmits location and speed data from sensors worn by the user, and a computer-implemented virtual reality video input signal that is dynamically modified in accordance with movement of the user's head and/or hand sensors. Furthermore, a method of enhancing a user's overall virtual experience is described. This method involves the user occupying a position of partial submersion in a body of fluid, such that the fluid provides buoyancy and resistance to the user.
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1. A 3D virtual reality system, comprising: a submersion tank comprising an enveloping medium to partially submerge a user and to provide buoyancy to the user; a waterproof head-mounted display system comprising at least one sensor for tracking the user's head movements and at least one optical element that displays virtual reality images to the user; a plurality of waterproof hand sensors attached to the user to track the user's hand movements; at least three electronic surface sensors positioned on the surface of and partially submerged in the enveloping medium contained in the submersion tank that define a submersible area and continuously track the head-mounted display and hand sensors as the head-mounted display and hand sensors transition to or from above the surface of the enveloping medium in an air environment and below the surface of the enveloping medium in a liquid medium based on their position relative to the position of the surface sensors; a computer/controller that both receives location and speed data from the head-mounted display and hand sensors worn by the user and transmits said location and speed data into the waterproof head-mounted display unit worn by the user; a computer-implemented virtual reality video input signal that is dynamically modified in accordance with movement of the user's head-mounted display and/or hand sensors.
A 3D virtual reality system designed for partial submersion comprises a submersion tank that uses a liquid to partially submerge and provide buoyancy to a user. It includes a waterproof head-mounted display with sensors to track head movements and display virtual reality images. Waterproof hand sensors track hand movements. Electronic surface sensors, positioned partially submerged, define a submersible area and track the head-mounted display and hand sensors as they move between air and liquid. A computer/controller receives location and speed data from the head-mounted display and hand sensors and transmits this data to the head-mounted display. A computer-implemented virtual reality video input is dynamically modified based on the user's head and hand movements.
2. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the submersion tank is a container comprising a cavity capable of holding liquid selected from a group consisting of a swimming pool, wading pool, bathtub, and a hot tub.
The 3D virtual reality system described in the previous claim features a submersion tank that's essentially a container with a cavity suitable for holding liquid, specifically including options like a swimming pool, wading pool, bathtub, or hot tub. It uses these containers to provide the environment for partial submersion and buoyancy for the user interacting with the virtual reality system.
3. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the enveloping medium is water.
The 3D virtual reality system previously described uses water as the enveloping medium within the submersion tank (which could be a swimming pool, wading pool, bathtub, or hot tub). The water provides buoyancy and allows for a partially submerged virtual reality experience.
4. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the waterproof head-mounted display further comprises: a head strap to secure the display to the head of the user; a 3D stereoscopic camera with two lenses to provide a source of real-world images; a screen to show virtual images; a plurality of lenses to enlarge and view the screen image in parallax, so that the user sees a 3D virtual image, a real image, or a 3D virtual image and a real image viewed together; at least one sensor to send location and speed data to the computer/controller; an outer-membrane, outer-wrapping, outer-compartment, coating, or sealant to protect the electronic components in the head-mounted display from liquid damage.
The waterproof head-mounted display unit in the 3D virtual reality system comprises a head strap to secure it, a 3D stereoscopic camera (with two lenses for real-world images), a screen to show virtual images, and lenses to magnify the screen image in parallax (creating a 3D view). It also includes sensors to transmit location and speed data to the computer/controller. An outer protective layer (membrane, wrapping, coating, or sealant) safeguards the electronic components from water damage.
5. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the waterproof head-mounted display further comprises a waterproof containment area for the computer/controller.
In the waterproof head-mounted display (which has a head strap, a 3D stereoscopic camera, a screen, lenses, sensors and waterproofing) the computer/controller itself has a designated waterproof area inside the display housing. This protects the computer/controller from water damage within the head-mounted unit.
6. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the head-mounted display is connected to and powered by the computer/controller.
The 3D virtual reality system with the waterproof head-mounted display (containing a waterproof area for the computer/controller) is configured so that the head-mounted display is connected to and powered by the external computer/controller unit.
7. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the computer/controller is a mobile cellular telephone.
In the described system, the computer/controller that powers the head-mounted display and processes sensor data from the waterproof VR system is a mobile cellular telephone.
8. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein at least one of the plurality of lenses is a Fresnel lens or a lenticular lens.
Within the waterproof head-mounted display (which includes a head strap, 3D camera, screen, lenses, and sensors), at least one of the lenses used to create the 3D virtual image is either a Fresnel lens or a lenticular lens. These lenses are used to enlarge the virtual image with parallax and provide the 3D effect.
9. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 1 wherein two hand sensors are attached to the user to send location and speed data to the computer/controller.
In the 3D virtual reality submersion system, the user is equipped with two hand sensors. These sensors send location and speed data about the user's hand movements back to the computer/controller for processing within the virtual reality environment.
10. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of sensors are attached to the user to track the user's movements.
The 3D virtual reality system includes a setup where multiple sensors are attached to the user to track their movements within the virtual environment. These sensors send data to the computer/controller, which adjusts the virtual reality experience accordingly.
11. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic surface sensors are positioned on the surface of the enveloping medium and send horizontal and vertical position data to the computer/controller to define the submersible area and liquid level.
In the 3D virtual reality system, the electronic surface sensors are placed on the surface of the liquid medium within the submersion tank. These sensors transmit horizontal and vertical position data to the computer/controller, which uses this information to define the boundaries of the submersible area and to determine the liquid level within the tank.
12. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the submersible area is defined by four electronic surface sensors.
The submersible area in the 3D virtual reality submersion system is defined by using four electronic surface sensors positioned on the surface of the water. These four sensors provide the necessary data to the computer/controller to create and monitor the boundaries of the tracked area.
13. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the computer/controller further comprises: a communication link for communicating with all of the sensors in the virtual reality system; a graphics processing unit to generate the virtual reality video input signal sent to the waterproof head-mounted display; a microprocessor-controlled transceiver that both receives real-time rate of change, horizontal, and vertical positional data from a plurality of sensors worn by the user, and also transmits the positional data in real-time to the waterproof head-mounted display; an input device the user can use for selecting and viewing virtual reality environments.
The computer/controller for the 3D virtual reality system has several key components: a communication link (wired or wireless) to interact with all sensors, a graphics processing unit (GPU) to generate the virtual reality video signal for the head-mounted display, a microprocessor-controlled transceiver for receiving real-time positional data from the user's sensors and transmitting that data to the head-mounted display, and an input device that allows the user to select and view virtual reality environments.
14. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communications link is selected from the group consisting of a wired connection and a wireless connection.
The communication link in the computer/controller unit, used for communicating with all the sensors in the virtual reality system and for transmitting data to the head-mounted display, is either a wired connection or a wireless connection.
15. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the head-mounted display and computer/controller are linked through wireless communication.
The head-mounted display and the computer/controller in the described virtual reality system communicate with each other wirelessly. This wireless connection facilitates the transmission of data and video signals between the two components.
16. The 3D virtual reality system according to claim 1 , which does not include a breathing apparatus and wherein the user is partially submerged and is not attached to a breathing apparatus.
The 3D virtual reality submersion system specifically does not include a breathing apparatus. The user is partially submerged in the liquid medium and is not connected to any device to aid in breathing while using the system.
17. A method, comprising applying the 3D virtual reality system according to claim 1 , wherein the user adopts a position within the submersible area such that one or more sensors are submerged while one or more sensors are not submerged.
A method of using the 3D virtual reality system is described, where a user positions themselves within the submersible area (defined by surface sensors in a submersion tank with a waterproof HMD and hand sensors) such that some of the user's sensors are submerged in the liquid while others remain above the surface.
18. The method, according to claim 17 , wherein the user experiences a virtual reality of partial submersion while the enveloping medium provides buoyancy and resistance to the user.
This method of using the 3D virtual reality system (where a user positions themselves within the submersible area such that one or more sensors are submerged while one or more sensors are not submerged) creates an experience for the user where they perceive a virtual reality of partial submersion, while the enveloping liquid provides buoyancy and resistance, enhancing the physical sensation of the virtual environment.
19. The method, according to claim 17 , wherein the virtual reality system is applied for gaming, exercising, education, simulation, or entertainment purposes.
The described method of utilizing the 3D virtual reality system (where the user is partially submerged with sensors and HMD) is suitable for applications such as gaming, exercising, education, simulation, or general entertainment purposes.
20. The 3D virtual reality system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising seats or platforms at various depths beneath a surface of the enveloping medium in the submersion tank on which the user can stand or sit.
The 3D virtual reality system (which uses a submersion tank, waterproof HMD, hand sensors, and surface tracking) includes seats or platforms positioned at various depths beneath the surface of the liquid within the submersion tank, allowing the user to stand or sit at different levels within the virtual environment.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
November 28, 2014
August 22, 2017
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